Yang Zhen believes that the direction of the 120th Division, which is currently responsible for protecting the entire Japanese offensive in northern Shandong and the entire right wing, seems irrelevant. But in fact, if the Japanese army implements a landing operation, because the division is located exactly where the Japanese army will land,
force, the combination with the frontal attack force.
In terms of the overall deployment of the Japanese army, its importance is even greater than that of other directions. If someone can be stabbed in the direction of Leling, then the Japanese army will definitely take follow-up actions. Unless they really do not have any landings in the Bohai Bay to outflank themselves.
A flanking attempt.
If a local counterattack can be launched in front of the division and the 120th Division is defeated, it will be extremely beneficial to mobilizing Japanese troops. At least the Japanese army will not be so reckless when investing follow-up troops in the battlefield west of Dezhou.
Without scruples, it can contain and disperse the second-line troops planned to be invested by the Japanese army.
But at present, the power of the East Cluster has basically been used to the extreme. How to carry out such an action still needs to be carefully considered. So he did not directly give orders to Chen Hanzhang, but asked Chen Hanzhang for his opinion. After all,
Chen Hanzhang is the front-line commander and has the clearest understanding of the entire Lubei war situation.
After receiving Yang Zhen's telegram, Chen Hanzhang did not reply immediately. Instead, he considered for a long time before calling Yang Zhen. He believed that the entire war situation in Northern Shandong was still in a tug of war. The various units of the Eastern Cluster were on the line from Dezhou to Leling, fighting with Northern Shandong.
The four divisions of the Japanese army attacking from the front were engaged in a fierce battle.
The Japanese army's offensive is quite fierce, and it is basically impossible to mobilize troops from various front-line combat units. If the deployment is forcible, then the front-line divisions will not have any reserves. For the current war situation, this is tantamount to draining the bottom of the cauldron, which will
Affects the stability of the entire war situation.
Moreover, the current mobile forces of the Eastern Cluster, as well as almost all of its reserves, are on the battlefield west of Dezhou. If the 120th Division on the Leling line is attacked first, unless the Du Kaishan Division east of Jinpu Road is mobilized, at least one division
The troops of the East Cluster will go south to join the battle. Otherwise, the current strength of the East Cluster will be difficult to meet the need to hit people with two fists at the same time.
Chen Hanzhang suggested that the limited forces should be concentrated at the moment to annihilate the 72nd Division first. If the headquarters is planning to launch a full-scale counterattack against the 120th Division on the Leling battlefield, it is better to wait until the Zaonan battlefield is over. Moreover, Chen Hanzhang believes that,
Instead of focusing on the 120th Division for subsequent operations, we should focus more on the 100th Division or the 118th Division that may be invested in the follow-up.
However, Chen Hanzhang believes that although the overall counterattack is currently insufficient, he can find a way to concentrate some of the troops and launch a partial counterattack on the Shangjiazhai line flanking the 120th Division. Even if he cannot completely eat the division in one bite, he can
It is possible to eliminate one part of the division and weaken its strength.
In Chen Hanzhang's view, among the three divisions of the Japanese army in the battlefield east of Texas, which one's position is very critical. No matter which one they fight, the Japanese army will be concerned about it when they invest in the follow-up.
Range interspersion is likely to create a mentality of being indifferent to the Japanese army.
Especially when the Anti-Japanese Alliance uses tanks to attack in the first stage, it has always been a tactic of opening the gap with infantry and then throwing in tank troops to quickly penetrate in depth. If you want to implement a tactical counterattack on the Eastern Front, you can completely use the first stage of the battle to give the Japanese army
The psychological shadow caused by the war was false and real, disrupting the entire strategic deployment of the Japanese army.
However, although Chen Hanzhang agreed to launch a local counterattack in Leling, Chen Hanzhang still suggested that this local counterattack should be slowed down slightly. It is best to wait until the encirclement and annihilation of the 72nd Division is completed before implementing it more appropriately, so that
It can also really create the impression on the Japanese army that the Anti-Japanese Alliance is going to pull out all the stops.
And after the 72nd Division is eliminated, no matter what changes occur on the battlefield on the Hebei-Shandong border, the freed-up troops will be in a position to be in a position of ease no matter how many reinforcements they face from the Japanese army. In this way, in terms of the overall strategy,
, will also appear more stable.
After receiving Chen Hanzhang's reply, Yang Zhen thought about it carefully and believed that Chen Hanzhang's idea was still sound. Regarding Chen Hanzhang's partial counterattack against the 120th Division, he postponed it until after the 72nd Division was dealt with.
I thought about it and approved it.
In the call back, Yang Zhen told Chen Hanzhang that he could completely decide when to launch a partial counterattack against the 120th Division, and there was no need to ask for instructions. But when making up his mind, he must communicate with Du Kaishan in advance.
Strategically, we should pay more attention to cooperating with Du Kaishan.
However, in his reply to Chen Hanzhang, Yang Zhen also repeatedly told him to be fast on the Zaonan battlefield. He must complete the encirclement and annihilation of the 72nd Division before the Japanese second-line reinforcements arrived. As long as he could
After destroying the 72nd Division, the entire frontal battlefield in northwest Shandong came to life.
After completing the encirclement and annihilation of the 72nd Division, except for one division left on the left to cooperate with the troops of the Hebei, Shandong and Henan Military Region to suppress the 118th Division, the remaining troops were immediately prepared for follow-up operations, but there must be
Mental preparation to face the siege of two Japanese divisions.
And when fighting Japanese reinforcements, you must beware of the impact of the follow-up armored units currently deployed by the Japanese army in Yucheng and Qihe. The intersecting units on both wings, especially the intersecting units on the right wing, must be prepared for anti-tank.
In the next attack, the Japanese army will definitely dispatch tank troops.
After it was transferred to the Shandong battlefield, the two tank brigades that had not been dispatched would definitely not stay there so honestly. When the Japanese army launched a full-line counterattack on the Zaonan battlefield, the two tank brigades that had been dormant
The independent tank brigade is very likely to be dispatched.
When fighting against Japanese reinforcements, attention should be paid to the use of air-to-ground firepower. If the Japanese army deploys tank troops on the battlefield west of Texas, attention should be paid to the anti-tank power of the Il-2 attack aircraft. The tank troops deployed on the right wing must be concentrated
Use and must not be scattered.
At the same time, pay close attention to the mobilization of the Japanese follow-up echelon in the entire northern Shandong area, including along the Jinpu Road. The enemy situation is changing at any time, so you must pay close attention. You must firmly grasp the initiative of the battle in your own hands. In the direction of Dezhou, you must
Use more local counterattack tactics to hold on to the 22nd Division. The headquarters will look at the development of the battle situation and give it some reinforcements as much as possible.
After receiving Yang Zhen's telegram of instructions, Chen Hanzhang also made certain local adjustments in response to Yang Zhen's requirements. In view of the fact that the Japanese army is likely to dispatch a large number of tank groups to cooperate with the 100 divisions deployed in depth, to attack Youzaonan
The right wing of the battlefield was interspersed with attacks. Chen Hanzhang concentrated all the attack aircraft groups assigned to him on the Gucheng, Dezhou, Pingyuan, and Gaotang lines.
At the same time, Chen Hanzhang also transferred the only self-propelled anti-tank gun battalion in his hand, equipped with a Soviet 76mm cannon, to the roundabout troops on the right wing of the Zaonan battlefield. He also transferred four two-pound anti-tank gun batteries
, a directly affiliated 76-mm cannon battalion was also allocated to the right-wing troops. And the divisional artillery group of the intersecting troops was urgently equipped with cannons, and the number of armor-piercing projectiles distributed was increased.
However, Chen Hanzhang not only strengthened the firepower of the right wing. He transferred a 122 rocket launcher battalion, two 107 rocket companies, and two 150mm howitzer battalions from the frontal battlefield to strengthen the troops on the right wing.
.And five additional 37mm anti-aircraft artillery batteries were deployed for the Zaonan frontal battlefield.
And asked Hou Guozhong not to use all anti-aircraft firepower to support ground operations during combat. On the Zaonan battlefield, be prepared for air defense. In order to increase the resistance of the 72nd Division and coordinate with its overall strategic posture, the Japanese army
Since ground reinforcements take time, a large number of aviation forces will inevitably be mobilized to cooperate with the 72nd Division.
But in the telegram to Hou Guozhong, Chen Hanzhang did not make any urging on the progress of encircling and annihilating the 72nd Division. Chen Hanzhang was still very clear about the principle of beating the drum without heavy hammer. Moreover, Chen Hanzhang also believed that speeding up the progress did not mean death.
You are a fool to fight hard. The truth has been explained clearly to Hou Guozhong a long time ago. If you say more, it will be nonsense.
As Chen Hanzhang launched a full-scale counterattack against the 72nd Division, the situation on the entire Hebei-Shandong border battlefield changed drastically in an instant. It was not only Yang Zhen and Chen Hanzhang who were constantly adjusting their strategies and tactics, but also Yang Zhen and Chen Hanzhang.
The Japanese troops facing them were also constantly making adjustments according to the changes in the war situation.
Chen Hanzhang launched a full-scale counterattack on the Zaonan battlefield. Lieutenant General Eitaro Uchiyama, who believed that the Eastern Front Group of the Anti-Japanese Alliance had been fooled, immediately adjusted the deployment according to the original plan. He immediately ordered the 118th Division to ignore the constraints of the surrounding Hebei, Shandong and Yu Military Region troops.
The ground launched a full-line attack from Wei County and Qinghe to Nangong and Daying.
The Fourth Independent Tank Brigade was ordered to be attached to the 72nd Division. Even before the forward advance, they had already found ways to disperse their operations and even organized squadrons to avoid the reconnaissance of the Anti-Japanese Alliance reconnaissance aircraft and intelligence agencies and disperse secrets.
The 100th Division that crossed the Yellow River passed through En County and attacked the front line of the old city, encircling the right-wing troops on the Zaonan battlefield at all costs and cutting off the connection between the anti-Union right-wing troops and the front battlefield.
However, his idea of mobilizing the 48th Division to participate in the war at the same time fell through because of the large-scale raids carried out by the Anti-Union Cavalry Brigade and the Shandong Military Region troops heading northwest of the Jiaodong Peninsula along the Yantai-Shouguang Highway. Especially the Shandong Military Region
Deploying the main force to launch an offensive around Yantai Port forced Uchiyama Eitaro to give up the idea of dispatching the 48th Division to march westward.
Yantai's Zhifu Port is the closest port to the entire Lubei battlefield. Although its throughput cannot be compared with Weihai and Qingdao, it can basically meet the needs. Qingdao Port is currently unavailable, and Weihai Port is not far away from the war zone in a straight line.
It is far away, but there is Mouping, which is not very stable, in the middle, and it is not very safe along the highway.
Therefore, the Japanese 12th Army is temporarily unable to carry out large-scale raids on the Shandong Military Region of the 18th Army, which operates from Weihai to Yantai, and the Qinghe Military Region to which it belongs, and before Qingdao Port can be restored to the outside world. Is Zhifu Port in Yantai safe?
, became the top priority for whether the Japanese supply line was smooth.
For Eitaro Uchiyama, the enemy forces in Shandong are once again moving more and more frequently. It is best not to transfer most or even all of the 48th Division for the time being. Especially in the current Shandong battlefield, several participating divisions
All materials needed for combat must be transported through this route.
Even if it is mobilized, at least one regiment must be left to cooperate with the field reinforcements on the front line in Yantai and make every effort to ensure the safety along the Yantai-Shouguang highway. Ensure the safety and smoothness of the first-line highway from Yantai Port to Dezhou to ensure the safety and smoothness of the front-line divisions.
Transportation of supplies is required.
Although he failed to mobilize the 48th Division, Uchiyama Eitaro felt that his troops were slightly insufficient. However, with Chiba Kumaji sending a distress telegram almost every hour, Uchiyama Eitaro decided to follow the original plan without waiting for subsequent additions.
When the troops arrived, they concentrated two divisions to encircle Zaonan battlefield on two wings.